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William Wallburn Ellis was born July 4, 1861 near Corinth, Mississippi. While the battle of Corinth was being fought during the Civil War his mother carried him in her arms and watched the battle. His father Arion Ellis, who was born in Ireland, was killed in that battle and he never had the privilege of enjoying the companionship of his father. He made two trips to Texas when just a boy, and the last time he remained in the State. When thirteen years of age, he donned his mount and followed the business since that time. His mother was Elizabeth Dale, born in Mississippi.Mrs. Ellis was born in Tennessee November 5, 1868 and came to Texas with her mother and brothers in 1878. They settled in Wilbarger County. Her name was Martha Jane Dodson. It was in Wilbarger County that she and Mr. Ellis met, and there at a little trading post in that county they were married on December 22, 1885. They came farther west and settled in Kent county on the Rocking Chair Ranch.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were citizens of West Texas all their married life and were known by the early settlers of the county for many miles around. They endured the early day hardships and they struggled in the task of establishing civilization in this country. They lived 32 years on the Rocking Chair Ranch.
They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary December, 1935, at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Rachel Bingham, at the old Spur Ranch Headquarters. Soon after the celebration, they moved to Spur in 1936 and made their home there until their deaths, he died June 12, 1940 and Mrs. Ellis passed away December 18, 1951.
There are 6 children, Mrs. Agatha Locke, Mrs. Rachael Bingham (4/4/1891~12/31/1980), Harry Ellis (12/5/1894~6/25/1970), Dulaney Davis(6/30/1869~6/12/1989), Dudley Stephen Ellis (8/11/1900~), and Miss Zell Carter Ellis (3/30/1909~3/8/1964).
History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, by Fred Arrington, 1971
Funeral services for W.W. Ellis, veteran cowpuncher, rancher and stock farmer, were held Thursday, June 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the Spur Cemetery. E.B. Brown, Church of Christ minister, of Sweetwater, read the funeral rites and spoke words of condolence to the grief stricken family, relatives and friends. J. H. Miles, minister of the Spur Church of Christ, read the scripture and J.E. Harrell, pastor of the First Methodist Church lead the prayer.Mr. Elmore Dodson, brother in law of W.W. Ellis, and a close associate for many years, paid a fitting tribute to the memory of his partner of the range, the companion of his playmate (his sister Jennie), a man who was above reproach, and a real cowhand on the range.
A male quartet composed of Faust Collier, R.C. Brown, James B. Reed and Tex Sechrist sang three of Mr. Ellis´s favorite sons: "Never Grow Old", "In the Sweet By and Bye" and "Headed for the Last Roundup".
Pallbearers at the services were Neal Chastain, John Ward, Walter Foreman, Baxter Scoggins, Bill Barnett, and Hobert Lewis. Flowerbearers were Miss Dorothy Love, Mrs. Neal Chastain, Mrs. Ruby Johnson, Mrs. Willie Maud Shields, Spur; Mrs. Olga Daniels, Lubbock; and Mrs. Noel Barnett, Jayton. Interment was made in Spur Cemetery with Spencer Campbell of Campbell´s Funeral Home directing.
W.W. Ellis answered the call and headed for the last round-up Wednesday, June 12 at 4:20 p.m. at his home, 1106 West Harris Street in Spur. His death was due to a heart attack, and came as a great shock to the family. Notwithstanding the fact that he had been in failing health for several years, hopes were held for his complete recovery and he was up and about, visiting with friends in the home when he was stricken.
"Bill" Ellis was born July 14, 1861, near Corinth, Mississippi. While still a baby, he was half orphaned by the death of his father, who was killed in the balled of Corinth during the Civil War. At the age of three, he came with his mother, brothers, and sisters to Ellis County, Texas, where he spent his childhood.
When thirteen years of age, he started out on his own. His first job was with T.M. Moore, a horse breeder of near Midlothian, for whom he worked for three years. From Ellis County, he helped to drive a herd of horses to Archer County where he secured a job with Mr. L.C. Clark and remained to grow up with the West. It was in Archer County that he met Miss Jennie Dodson, to whom he was married at Harrold, in Wilbrager County on December 22, 1881. To this union were born six children; four daughters and two sons.
From Wilbarger County Mr. and Mrs. Ellis went to the Texas Panhandle and established a ranch home. While there he helped in the organization of Collingsworth County.
In 1903 Mr. Ellis and his family moved to Kent County, bringing with them across the country a nice herd of cattle and horses, and established the Rocking Chair Ranch home on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. There he and Mrs. Ellis lived until 1936, when they bought a home and moved to Spur.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Jennie Ellis; four daughters, Mrs. Agatha Locke of Miami, TX; Mrs. Rachael Bingham, Mrs. Dulaney Davis and Miss Zell Ellis, of Spur; and two sons, Harry Ellis, of Spur; and Dudley Ellis, of Swenson. There are six grandchildren, Ellis Locke of Miami, Mrs. Douglas B. Stone of Portales, NM; Wallace Bingham of Louisiana; Newton Bingham of Spur; and Margaret Jane Dudley and Sue Ellis of Swenson. Mr. Ellis also had two great grandchildren: Helen Locke of Miami, and Barry Stone of Portales, NM. All of the children and great grandchildren were present for the funeral.
One sister also survives, Mrs. Jane Ellis Blanton, 86, of Wichita Falls, who was unable to attend the funeral. His only other near relative, his brother Sam, passed away at the age of 84 about a month ago at his home at Newcastle, Texas.
Among the out-of-town relatives and friends here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Ellis and sons of Earth, Texas; Mr. Elmore Dodson, Wellington; Mr. and Mrs. Murry Dodson, Memphis, TX; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kennedy, Rotan; Messrs. and Mesdames John Ward, J.Q. Ward, T. Houston, Mike M. Young, and J. T. Gardner, of Swenson; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Barnett, Robinson, of Jayton; Mrs. Mattie Dickson and son, Mr. and Mrs. Troy Dickson, of Luzon; Mrs. Olga Daniels and Hamp Collett, of Lubbock; Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Thacker of Roaring Springs; Mrs. E. R. Rorie, Turkey; Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Cardwell, Post; Mr. and Mrs. Olda Harrington, Pecos; Mrs. J. D. Patterson, Peacock; Wayman Smith, Jim Robertson, and Alonzo Mayfield, of Aspermont; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ragsdale, of Vincent, OK; and Mrs. Bolin Braswell, of Hollis, OK; and others.
©The Texas Spur, June 20, 1940
Submitted by Lillian Grace Nay, transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
A pioneer of Kent county and West Texas Mrs. Martha Jane Ellis, 83, died here Tuesday following a serious illness of only a few days. Services will be held today, Thursday, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Christ. Bro. Willis Jernigan will officiate the services assisted by Rev. Cal C. Wright.Better known as "Grandmother Ellis," she was born in Tennessee on November 5, 1868, and came to Texas with her parents in 1877. Mrs. Ellis, nee Martha Jane Dodson, was married to Wm. Ellis at Harrell, on December 22, 1895.
Mr. And Mrs. Ellis made their home on the Bar-X ranch in Oklahoma. Ellis participated in the huge cattle drives each spring, before there were any fences in Texas, bringing the cattle back from the southern portions of the state.
Later, the Ellis family moved to Wellington where they homesteaded some land. In 1903, due to an asthmatic condition of Ellis, the family moved to Kent county, twenty-six miles from what is now the City of Spur.
Seven children were born into the Ellis family, one dying in infancy. Mrs. Ellis was preceded in death by her husband in 1940, three years after they moved to the Spur community.
Mrs. Ellis was converted early in life and joined the Church of Christ in 1909.
She is survived by her children: Mrs. Agatha Arrington of Miami, Texas; Mrs. Rachel Bingham of Spur; Harry Ellis of Spur; Mrs. Dulaney Davis of Ralls; Dudley Ellis of Truscott,; and Miss Zell Ellis of San Angelo. One brother, Elmore Dodson of Dodson, Texas, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren also survive.
Pallbearers will be Lawis Lee, G.W. Grimes, Neal Chastain, O.M. McGinty, Clarence Foreman and Coy McMahan.
Interment will be in the Spur cemetery under the direction of Campbell´s Funeral Chapel.
©The Texas Spur, Thursday, December 20, 1951
Transcribed by Becky Hodges
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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